He will offer his hand to give a return handshake.
”My apologies. In my zeal to begin I showed some terrible rudeness. I look forward to our partnership.
"We have not gone unnoticed. I think I can see distant wings approaching," Siffa interrupts, gazing to the north across the ruined city. "If you wish to investigate this tunnel, we must be quick."
Qitaba whispers to the earth elemental.
[/b]"Change of plans, friend. Let some of the bird-women into the tunnel, if they come, then collapse the entrance. After that, you may go."[/b]
"Come, everyone. I'll have the earth elemental collapse the entrance if any harpies get in. They'll be split up and at a disadvantage if they come in here."
Qitaba hops down. "Tarson, can you identify the undead down here? It's not my area of expertise. I'm more of a cyclopes-planewalker-jackalwere person myself," he says with a shrug and a wink.
” I’m not familiar with what could be causing those strange noises.”
Teasel intensely thinks about what can be causing the whistling and shrugs saying,"I dunno...
Wulf waits as the others look trying to keep an eye out for a variety of possible attacks.
To the authorities of the sovereign Nation of Andoran,
Please accept this letter as introduction on behalf of our agent, Brother Tarson Lierdein. I have dispatched him to aid your investigations into the Lumber Consortium and to provide the Gold-Fisted Judge's aegis upon the proceedings. If the allegations regarding the Consortium's dealings are true, they represent a gross perversion of the tenets of Commerce and Fair Trade.
Brother Lierdein's experience as a clerical priest will ensure his ability to confirm and authenticate your findings, especially in regards to the complexities of accounting and finance. Nevertheless, he is also adept in channeling Abadar's Majesty, so he can also provide assistance in any unforeseen misadventures, unlikely though they may be.
From the Pen and Approved by
Archbanker Andredos Golmuth of Caliphas.
Based upon the noises alone, Tarson is indeed stymied by what manner of undead could be the source. However, Freyja has encountered something similar in her past travels. Foul beings that haunt the remnants of civilization, shadows lurk within the cellar beneath the old pilgrim inn.
”We are sorely lacking in magical weapons.”
Helgrim grumbles.
”But, we will not last long against wave after wave of alerted Harpies.”
My sword will be useless against such undead. Freyja notes with worry. Who has an enchanted weapon? My silence spell will protect us from the Harpy's song at least.
”So planning on the fly here. Find a place to hide, lure the Harpies underground, use the elemental to close the tunnel behind them.”
”Look around. Quick.”
The dwarf grips his beard weights and closes his eyes in prayer.
”A battle brews as a prelude to war.”
”I believe I am the last Warden and I have pledged my life and sworn the oaths.”
”As a son and rightful descendant of The Ironstar I ask you to look upon me and hear my prayers.”
”Magrim overseer over the dwarven afterlife, it was you who first taught us how to commune with Dwarven gods. You who is responsible for restoring racked souls of our Ancestors. Help me do your bidding.”
”Torag, God of defense and strategical thinking, please give me your insight.”
”Torag, your bold younger brother, Angradd, prefers aggressive tactics. Please help him see the bold nature of our daring assault and the gambit we are making. Should Angradd see or fight as worthy please tip the balance in our favor. The two of you, along with your older brother Magrim, watch over battles and decide the destinies of dwarven spirits.“
”Please, don’t let me dishonor this place. My companions are not dwarves, but they are the last ones in this place trying to spit in Droskar’s eye dammit!”
”See us. May the Ancestors see me and judge me accordingly.”
He opens his eyes seeing the stones as only a dwarf can.
Even though this surface city was predominantly human, Helgrim finds that the old stones bear the unmistakable tool marks of dwarven masons. However, of far greater interest, Helgrim finds signs of another recent traveler.
Peering inside the old temple of Abadar, on a casual glance, one's eye might be immediately drawn to the golden scales toppled upon the ground. It sits near the foot of a marble altar at the far side of the holy house. It clearly once hosted the man-high icon, but now it sits bare. The stone tiles show many scratches and furrows from past, failed attempts to drag the heavy, golden treasure away.
The adjoining pilgrims' inn, however, will likely lack such protections.
”I will need to inform my superiors about this. A shame that something so impressive is stuck here in these ruins. If I may let me say a quick prayer.”
“Guide our hand in making our explorations profitable and protect us from those who seek to bring down the works of civilization. May our efforts be emulate the perfections found in your vault. So it is judged.”
At that point Tarson will investigate the ruins and also try to appraise the scales as well.
”Look! Evidence of a recent campfire and the shredded remains of a sleeping roll. Not much else has been left behind.”
He crosses over towards it.
”Except for a sturdy quarterstaff made of exotic Mwangi wood and shod with Qadiran steel. A family name is etched upon one of the metal bands: Van Dorning.”
”Does that ring a bell for anyone?”
”We may have allies yet unknown here.”
”I think we should shelter in the temple.”
"I do not know who that belongs to, but I shall take it until the owner returns. My skill with a staff is quite adept."Wulf says to Helgrim slipping his Darkwood staff onto his back.
"Shelter here seems optimal, use it as a base of operations" He says beginning to look about and see what is defendable and what is not.
"As the sleeping rolls was shredded, I'm not sure Ser Van Dorning will return," says Qitaba darkly. "Well, Qadiran steel is known to be light and imbued with tensile strength; may it serve you well, Wulf."
He rubs his chin. "I don't have a spell to make a weapon magical, but I do have a cantrip for attacking the undead...which I was about to use on poor Tarson here. I don't suppose light hurts them? That's probably too much to hope for."
He nods to the dwarf and fighter. "Shelter here and make plans, and I can send out elementals to scout. Mind you, they are no good against these shadows either."
I believe this place has enough of Abadar's presence still to ward against such undead. We will be safe from them here, but not necessarily safe from hags or harpies. Best we set watches.
Qitaba needs little time to look over the well-made quarterstaff before he strongly suspects it to be enchanted. However, there is not enough time to work the spells or conduct the full examination to confirm such suspicions, for there soon grows an audible flapping of wings. A flight of harpies approaches the ruined temple. Though the gaps in the walls and ceiling are too narrow to allow them to fly through, that does not rule out the possibility that they might crawl inside - or simply walk through the same front door that provided you with access.
"Freyja, you have that Silence spell?" mutters Qitaba.
He casts Open/Close quickly to shut the door. "Helgrim, bar that."
If there is time, he will also summon an air elemental.
When the staff is found Freyja looks troubled. Sir Wulf, might I take a look at that? she asks. As strange as it might sound I believe that belonged to my father. And if this fire was his, he could be close, and possibly even still alive. Her expression is of both hope and concern.
Freyja casts Heroism on herself and encourages the group to cast their own spell before her silence spell is cast. Cast your spells now as I will cast Silence on this coin in a moment.
”Get em down that hole if you can!”
The dwarf says as he secures the portal.
”And seal’em in with the shadows.”
”After we have cleared up this resistance I will look at using my floating disc to begin moving the scale. This may be a long term project. I can assure you the church will pay for its return. In the mean time allow me to prepare us for battle.”
He will cast bark skin on helmgrip for a +2 to natural armor.
Next he will cast defending bone, causing a skull to begin orbiting around his body.
Finally bright light will burst from his holy symbol as he casts bless on the party.
Teasel is going to ready her scythe saying,"You know I won't be able to heal you when the spell is cast. Though I'm sure we'll be able fend them off "
She will cast Shield of Faith.
The spell will be on this coin and will emanate 20' feet out. So spell casting will have to be done outside that radius.
Qitaba's spell manages to force the sturdy stone door of the temple shut, and Helgrim plants his might behind it to keep it that way. The arcanist also has just enough time to summon a new elemental, with the outsider's body causing a torrent of wind inside the temple hall just as the sound of clicking talons alights upon the vaulted stone roof.
Tarson and Teasel invoke their protective magics whilst Freyja summons magical heroism from within her. Tarson summons his floating skull just before Freyja invokes silence upon the coin betwixt her fingers. The cleric then moves towards the rear of the temple to bless the party, free from the constraints of the magical silence.
"Do we have visitors, sisters? Shall we sing to them?" a cloying voice floats down through the gaps in the stone roof.
"I think they wou..."
The second voice is cut off as the magical silence takes hold.
Teasel sticks her tongue out at the harpies mocking them.
Tarson will move out from the silence and wait until he sees a harpy crawl in, at that point he will cast boneshaker.
Kit, of all things, takes out his crossbow and loads it, staying in the zone of silence for now.
The air elemental whirls, soundless in the same zone.
The first of the harpies squeezes through a wide gap in the curved stone roof, briefly blocking out the sunlight. Her lips move as she attempts to sing out, but her face makes it clear that it is a very aggravated tune she attempts to croon. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't quite fathom why note a single audible note escapes her mouth.
Even worse for her, as she clings to the edges of the hole with her talons, silhouetted against the morning sky, she is a prime target for Tarson and his magic.
Her shriek is silenced as she mutely suffers the pain of every hollow bone in her body rattling within her body. She loses her grip and the spell pulls her down. Her pain is too great and she cannot right herself before landing awkwardly upon her side.
Wulf delivers two hard blows with the new staff to the downed harpy
Wulf handles the new staff as well as any of the ordinary ones he commanded in the army, and with one strong blow he nearly cracks the prone harpy's skull and leaves her unconscious and bleeding upon the temple floor.
You hear the flapping of leathery wings outside the stone walls. For a moment, you suspect the other harpies are fleeing, but quickly you realize they are flying to the rear of the temple. Having escaped the zone of silence centered upon Freyja and her coin, they call out their song from the far end of the temple.
Teasel looks entranced with the harpies moving closer to them.
Freyja moves to center her silence spell and begins a battle kata with her long sword. Her rythemic movements and sword skill inspire the group to better performance.
Kit shoots at a harpy in flight.
He then reloads.
The air elemental moves towards the harpies at a rapid whirl, and slams one of them.
Assuming that is enough to fight off the song he will raise a hand and shoot a arrow of law at the harpy not engaged in combat
Dc 16 for half
Kit aims for the harpy flapping her wings and keeping aloft just beyond one of the larger holes in the north wall to the rear of the temple. Despite the impediment of the worn stone, with guidance from Freyja's almost magical performance, the crossbow bolt finds its mark. The bolt erupts in a sticky morass of goo that seizes upon the harpy's arms and wings. She cannot keep herself aloft and tumbles to the ground just outside the temple.
His air elemental whirls towards the southeastern corner. With an ephemeral yet strong fist, the summoned ally delivers a punch through a gap in the stones that connects with the harpy's jaw, almost interrupting her song.
Teasel, entranced by the northernmost harpy's song, walks towards the corner of the temple and stands, listening as the notes become more strained by the singing harpy's fall.
Tarson resists their song, but his rebuttal spell only strikes the ancient white stones of the inner walls.
Before the Fight
Wait this was your father's? Does that mean he was here?Wulf says looking to Freyja with a bit of concern
Helgrim whips the dwarf forged hand axe from his belt and hucks it as hard as he can at the nearest Harpy.
The axe makes three full rotations before finding its mark.
A grim smile spreads over the warriors face.
”Don’t let that hit’cha or the dwarf will split’ya!”
Before the Fight
Wait this was your father's? Does that mean he was here?Wulf says looking to Freyja with a bit of concern
I think so. I have picked up hints that my father father, Stason Van Dorning, sought to explore these ruins. I an almost sure that is his staff and that means this was likely has campsite, and the fire was still warm. He might need out help!
Helgrim's axe hurtles across the temple and strikes the northernmost harpy whilst it flaps within view of a large gap in the roof. The axehead finds its home in the creature's belly shortly before Kit's tangle bolt sends her crashing to the ground.
The harpy ensnared by Kit's bolt struggles in vain to escape the goo that holds her arms and wings tight. She reflexively calls out to her kin for aid, but the pervading Silence prevents her words from reaching the other harpy.
The other harpy, rebuffed by the air elemental's swing, flaps over to the front of the temple. Wulf braces himself against the doors to hold them shut, and his strength proves unexpected for the harpy, who makes as much progress upon the door as a mere splashing of water.
Meanwhile, the shadows crawl out of the well in the pilgrim inn's atrium. They float towards the temple, uncowed by the morning light. However, they stop dead at a certain point - unwilling to draw any closer to the holy house.
Kit thinks for a moment and realizes that Teasel is not engaged in combat with the harpy, and thus won't foul his shot. He loads a bolt and fires it...and manages to foul it all on his own. His expletive is swallowed by Silence.
Dropping the silenced coin in the middle of the room Freja also stops dancing and relies on her ability to allow the effects of the performance to linger for 3 rounds. She moves over to the window by Teasel and attacks the harpy there.